Breast Cancer

Happy Monday, and welcome to Medical Mondays! It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these, and October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so I’m kicking off this week with a post on Breast Cancer!

Breast cancer occurs when the normal cells found in the breast undergo changes and start to grow abnormally. It is more common in women, so most expert groups recommend that women >50 should begin mammogram screenings. Your decision on whether to start or delay mammograms between 40-49 depend on your preferences and risk of breast cancer.

Diet and exercise can promote well-being and could potentially improve survival, and all women with breast cancer should be counselled about the role of genetic testing + counselling.

• For more information on the awesomeness that is exercise, read Melanie’s post on how to keep future-me away!

Risk Factors

• Increasing age
• Female sex
• Obesity, esp. in post-menopausal women
• Increased exposure to estrogen
  • Menarche before 13yo
  • Nulliparity
  • Pregnancy with 1st child after 30yo
  • Menopause after 55yo
  • Prior breast cancer
• Family history of breast cancer
• Alcohol use
• Inherited mutations

Diagnosis

Screening mammography is the only breast imaging modality that has consistently been found to decrease breast cancer-related death, and the majority of breast cancers are diagnosed as a result of an abnormal mammogram.

That being said, the majority of mammographic findings represent benign tissue.

Increased breast density impacts the ability to detect mammographic abnormalities, and also increases the risk for breast cancer. Compared with older women, there is evidence that younger women have fatser-growing cancers for which mammographic screening wouldn’t be as beneficial. Younger women are typically screened (if deemed necessary) with ultrasound.

Treatment

• Surgery
  • Mastectomy: surgery to remove the whole breast
  • Breast-conserving therapy (lumpectomy): surgery to remove the cancer + a section of healthy tissue around it (will usually need radiation therapy after surgery)
• Radiation therapy (destroy cancer cells)
• Chemotherapy (composed of a group of medicines that kill cancer cells)
• Hormone therapy (certain forms of breast cancer grow in response to hormones, so this treatment can block the hormones or prevent your body from making certain kinds of hormones)
• Targeted therapy (works on cancers with certain characteristics)
• Cancer survivors who have completed breast cancer treatment should undergo regular follow-up, and an annual mammography is recommended for patients who underwent breast-conserving therapy.

Interested in Finding Out More?

The CDC offers information and a number of different resources, including where to find a mammography facility.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) has resources to help individuals affected by breast cancer through education, early detection, and support services.

• Early Detection Plan is an app (iPhone) that helps you develop a plan to detect the disease early.
• Beyond The Shock is an app (iPhone + iPad) that provides informational videos, stories from breast cancer survivors, as well as a community Q&A.
• MyNBCF is an online community that provides support, encouragement and compassion for supporters and survivors of breast cancer.

Find out more about breast cancer from the National Breast Cancer Foundation!

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Disclaimer: This is where I reiterate that I am merely a medical student struggling through the world that is her clinical rotations. The statements made on this blog should not be taken as medical advice to treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please contact your own physician or health care provider before starting a health or fitness/wellness program. (See full disclaimer here.)